NIJ FY 15 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation – Forensic Services (CBI-FS) is the state agency responsible for analyzing evidential material associated with criminal investigations for all state and local criminal justice agencies. CBI-FS maintains five regional laboratories located in Denver, Grand Junction, Greeley, Pueblo, and Boulder. By 2016, all facilities will have DNA analysis capabilities.

In 2013 the Colorado legislature past a law requiring the submission of nearly all sexual assault evidence kits (SAEKs) collected in the state of Colorado to be submitted to an accredited forensic laboratory. In the months since the passing of this legislation, the CBI-FS has seen an increase in the submission of SAEKs from every law enforcement agency within the state, including those which have accredited laboratories as their labs do not have the capacity to analyze all of these kits. Other cases are continuing at their normal pass.

Additionally, as is always the case in DNA analysis, the technologies continue to improve for both casework and database analyses.

Therefore, the four goals of the FY 2015 DNA Backlog Reduction Program are to:
Goal 1: Reduce the backlog of DNA forensic samples
Goal 2: Increase capacity of the CBI-FS DNA Casework Unit
Goal 3: Provide required continuing education
Goal 4: Increase the capacity of the CBI-FS DNA Database Unit

nca/ncf.